kids encyclopedia robot

Polk County, Tennessee facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Polk County
Polk County Courthouse in Benton
Polk County Courthouse in Benton
Official seal of Polk County
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Polk County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Map of the United States highlighting Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Tennessee
Founded November 28, 1839
Named for James K. Polk
Seat Benton
Largest town Benton
Area
 • Total 442 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land 435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water 7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  1.7%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 17,544 Increase
 • Density 40.33/sq mi (15.57/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Polk County is a county located in the southeastern part of Tennessee, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 17,544 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Benton.

Polk County was created on November 28, 1839. It was formed from parts of Bradley and McMinn counties. The county was named after James K. Polk, who was the governor of Tennessee at the time and later became a U.S. president. Polk County is part of the larger Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Area.

History of Polk County

Early Inhabitants and Cherokee Removal

Before European settlers arrived, Polk County was home to the Cherokee people for thousands of years. In 1819, the Cherokee Nation gave up the northern part of what is now Polk County to the U.S. government. The rest of the county was known as the Ocoee District.

Between 1838 and 1839, the Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes in this area. They were moved to a new territory, a journey known as the Trail of Tears.

Founding the County and Copper Mining

The Tennessee General Assembly officially created Polk County on November 23, 1839. The town of Benton was chosen as the county seat after an election on February 4, 1840.

In 1843, copper was discovered in a place called Ducktown. By the 1850s, a large mining operation began in southeastern Polk County. This area became known as the Copper Basin. Copper mining continued to be a major industry until the last mine closed in 1987.

Polk County During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Polk County was one of the few counties in East Tennessee that supported the Confederacy. In June 1861, the county voted to leave the United States.

The copper mines in Polk County were very important during the war. They provided about 90% of the copper used by the Confederacy. When Union forces captured these mines after the Battles for Chattanooga in November 1863, it was a big loss for the Confederacy. There were also some conflicts and raids in the county during the war.

Building Dams and Power Plants

The East Tennessee Power Company built two hydroelectric dams on the Ocoee River. Ocoee Dam No. 1 was finished in 1911, and Ocoee Dam No. 2 was finished in 1913. These dams use the river's water to create electricity.

Later, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which started in 1933, bought the power company. TVA built another dam, Ocoee Dam No. 3, in 1943. They also built the powerhouse for Apalachia Dam on the Hiwassee River, which was also completed in 1943.

"Polkstock" Music Festival

In 1973, a large music festival was planned for a farm north of Benton. It was called the "Midwest Monster Peace Jubilee and Music Festival," but many people nicknamed it "Polkstock" because it was similar to the famous Woodstock festival. Organizers expected about 500,000 people to attend.

However, many local residents, especially religious groups, were against the festival. They worried about the impact of such a large event. The festival was eventually stopped by a state court.

Fireworks Factory Explosion

On May 27, 1983, there was a large explosion at a fireworks factory near Benton. The factory was not licensed, and it was producing illegal fireworks. The explosion caused a significant tragedy, affecting many workers. This was considered the largest illegal fireworks operation found in the United States at that time.

Olympic Games and Gun Sanctuary

The Ocoee Whitewater Center in Polk County was chosen as the site for the canoe slalom events during the 1996 Summer Olympics. These Olympic Games were mainly held in Atlanta, Georgia.

In April 2019, Polk County became the first county in Tennessee to be a "gun sanctuary." This means the county supports the Second Amendment right to own guns.

Geography of Polk County

Polk County covers about 442 square miles. Most of this area, about 435 square miles, is land, and 7.7 square miles is water. It is the most southeastern county in Tennessee. This means it shares borders with both Georgia and North Carolina.

Mountains and Rivers

Most of Polk County is mountainous, part of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. These are a section of the larger Appalachian Mountains. The western edge of the county has a different type of terrain called the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians.

The highest point in the county is Big Frog Mountain, which is about 4,224 feet tall. A large part of Polk County, about 80%, is covered by the Cherokee National Forest.

The Ocoee River flows through Polk County. This river is famous for whitewater rafting and was used for the 1996 Olympics. The calmer Hiwassee River in northern Polk County is also popular for rafting and tubing. The Conasauga River is unique because it's the only river in Tennessee that doesn't flow into the Mississippi River Basin. Most of the people in Polk County live in the western, less mountainous parts or in the Copper Basin area.

Neighboring Counties

Ocoee Scenic Byway
View from the Ocoee Scenic Byway

Polk County shares its borders with these other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

Polk County has several protected natural areas:

  • Big Frog Wilderness (part of it)
  • Cherokee National Forest (part of it)

State Protected Areas

  • William L. Davenport Refuge
  • Ducktown Basin Museum and Burra Burra Mine (a state historic site)
  • Fourth Fractional Township Wildlife Management Area
  • Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park

Polk County Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 3,570
1850 6,338 77.5%
1860 8,726 37.7%
1870 7,369 −15.6%
1880 7,269 −1.4%
1890 8,361 15.0%
1900 11,357 35.8%
1910 14,116 24.3%
1920 14,243 0.9%
1930 15,686 10.1%
1940 15,473 −1.4%
1950 14,074 −9.0%
1960 12,160 −13.6%
1970 11,669 −4.0%
1980 13,602 16.6%
1990 13,643 0.3%
2000 16,050 17.6%
2010 16,825 4.8%
2020 17,544 4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2014
USA Polk County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid
Age pyramid Polk County

Who Lives in Polk County?

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,544 people living in Polk County. There were 7,383 households and 5,239 families.

Most people in Polk County are White, making up about 92.98% of the population. Other groups include Black or African American (0.35%), Native American (0.34%), Asian (0.19%), and Pacific Islander (0.06%). About 4.39% of people identify as other races or mixed races. People of Hispanic or Latino background make up about 1.69% of the population.

In 2010, the average household had about 2.49 people, and the average family had 2.96 people. About 22.14% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in the county was 42.5 years.

Economy and Jobs in Polk County

For a long time, the copper mines in the Copper Basin were the biggest source of jobs in Polk County. As copper mining became less common, tourism started to grow.

Tourism and Whitewater Rafting

The first company offering rafting trips on the Hiwassee River started in 1969. In 1976, repairs to Ocoee Dam No. 2 made it possible for people to raft the rapids of the Ocoee River. Several rafting companies began during this time.

An agreement was made in 1984 with TVA to release water from the dam at certain times. This allows whitewater rafting to continue. This agreement was renewed in 2017.

Today, tourism related to rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers is the largest part of Polk County's economy. More than 250,000 people visit the area each year for these activities. The Ocoee River is now the most rafted river in the United States. Both rivers are among the most popular tourist attractions in Tennessee.

Education in Polk County

Public schools in Polk County are managed by the Polk County Schools district.

High Schools

  • Copper Basin High School
  • Polk County High School

Middle Schools

  • Chilhowee Middle School

Elementary Schools

  • Benton Elementary School
  • South Polk Elementary School
  • Copper Basin Elementary School

Communities in Polk County

Ducktown-Main-Street-TN68-tn
Ducktown, Tennessee

Cities

Town

  • Benton (This is the county seat, the main town where the county government is located.)

Other Communities

Transportation in Polk County

Major Roads

  • US 64.svg US-64
  • US-74
  • US 411.svg US-411
  • SR-40
  • SR-30
  • SR-68
  • SR-74
  • SR-123
  • SR-163
  • SR-313
  • SR-314
  • SR-315

Airports

Polk County has two airports:

  • Martin Campbell Field: This is a general aviation airport, meaning it's used for private planes and smaller aircraft.
  • Chilhowee Gliderport: This airport near Benton is specifically for gliders, which are aircraft that fly without an engine.

Notable People from Polk County

  • Stan Beaver, a musician.
  • Landrum Bolling, a journalist.
  • Joel Eaves, a basketball coach.
  • G. Earl Guinn, a university president.
  • Elizabeth Hamer Kegan, a librarian.
  • John E. Hutton, a U.S. representative.
  • J. Chris Newton, a politician.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Polk (Tennessee) para niños

kids search engine
Polk County, Tennessee Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.